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Jeff McIntosh \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Montreal Alouettes\u2019 Justin Lawrence (centre) celebrates a touchdown.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Hometown: Spruce Grove, Alta.<\/p>\n
Age: 29<\/p>\n
Position: Centre<\/p>\n
Height: 6-0<\/p>\n
Weight: 305 pounds<\/p>\n
Notable: A three-time Grey Cup champion, with three different teams (Calgary, 2018; Toronto, 2022; Montreal, 2023), and a two-time CFL East All-Star<\/p>\n
What\u2019s your pre-game hype song\u2026 and your guilty pleasure song if you want to admit to blasting it?<\/p>\n
There\u2019s always one guy who runs the (music) in the locker room, so I\u2019m usually just kind of vibing to whatever the guys are playing, but if I had one go-to song before a game, it would be 100 Shots by Young Dolph\u2026<\/p>\n
It\u2019s kind of weird, but I love listening to T-Pain\u2019s music. I could listen to T-Pain all day long and never get sick of it.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s your most impressive physical ability (can be strength or athleticism)?<\/p>\n
My most unique ability is my ability to get underneath people. Being shorter, I have a little bit better leverage, I\u2019d say. That\u2019s something I bring to the run game\u2026 and using my shorter frame to my advantage.<\/p>\n
Do you have a hidden talent?<\/p>\n
My ability to communicate with people. In my sense, I try to be a glue guy \u2014 bring people together. I think I do a really good job with that, connecting with a lot of guys and creating a bond with everyone.<\/p>\n
If you weren\u2019t playing football, what would be your dream job?<\/p>\n
Football has kind of been my life forever. So, if I weren\u2019t playing football, I would probably be coaching football. And if I weren\u2019t doing football, I would probably be working in the oil field with my family. That\u2019s what we do back home.<\/p>\n
What is your favourite pastime during the off-season?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m away from home for six months out of the year, so my favourite pastime is just getting together with family and friends on the weekends.<\/p>\n
Poutine, butter tarts or Nanaimo bars \u2014 what\u2019s the ultimate Canadian snack?<\/p>\n
Butter tarts, for sure. Butter tarts are so good. Mix it up, you got raisins in them or you don\u2019t have them \u2014 you can kind of change it up a bit.<\/p>\n
Cats or dogs?<\/p>\n
Dogs. I got a Wiener dog and a Yorkie, so I\u2019m a big dog guy.<\/p>\n
Favourite moment of your career?<\/p>\n
My first year, when I went to Toronto and I became a full-time starter. Just that grind of getting to the CFL and keeping your foot in the door, and then finally getting your opportunity to seize that. I think that the proudest moment of my career is getting that traction in the CFL and finally becoming a starter.<\/p>\n
One thing you can\u2019t go on a road trip without?<\/p>\n
My Nintendo Switch. Or the iPad.<\/p>\n
If you could play another position \u2014 and have the physical ability for it \u2014 what would it be?<\/p>\n
I\u2019d probably be a linebacker. Linebacker looks like a fun position \u2014 run around, cause a little chaos. I feel like it\u2019s what O-linemen do, but in more open space.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s one piece of advice you\u2019d give your rookie self \u2014 or as a kid dreaming of playing in the CFL?<\/p>\n
Just appreciate the process of it. Enjoy every little moment, because I feel like sometimes you\u2019re looking so forward all the time that you forget what\u2019s really happening around you. Just appreciate the moment, appreciate the grind and know that there\u2019s always something worth it if you put hard work into it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kiondr\u00e9 Smith, Hamilton Tiger-Cats<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jeff McIntosh \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n Hamilton Tiger-Cats\u2019 Kiondr\u00e9 Smith (right) goes for a scamper.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Hometown: Markham, Ont.<\/p>\n Age: 25<\/p>\n Position: Receiver<\/p>\n Height: 6-1<\/p>\n Weight: 180 pounds<\/p>\n Notable: A 2025 East Division All-Star after scoring five touchdowns and setting career highs in receptions (86) and yards (1,126)<\/p>\n What\u2019s your pre-game hype song\u2026 and your guilty pleasure song if you want to admit to blasting it?<\/p>\n Smile Body Pretty Face by Ty Dolla $ign and Kodak Black\u2026<\/p>\n Smile Body Pretty Face. You say pre-game hype song, I don\u2019t listen to any rap music, metal music or anything pre-game. It\u2019s all R&B, it\u2019s all slower stuff, so it\u2019s all kind of against the grain, as far as what football players tend to listen to, especially on game day.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your most impressive physical ability (can be strength or athleticism)?<\/p>\n Is the ability to wrestle a thing? I was an untrained wrestler throughout high school, and I placed top-three in OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations), so I beat all the best wrestlers in the country as a non-wrestler.<\/p>\n Do you have a hidden talent?<\/p>\n I\u2019m really good at chess. I went to chess camp in elementary school for Grades 3 to 6, and then I just carried on and I kept playing, read some books, practised my openings and got better to the point where I\u2019m 1200-1400 rated on chess.com.<\/p>\n If you weren\u2019t playing football, what would be your dream job?<\/p>\n If I weren\u2019t playing football, I would have stuck with baseball, which is the sport I\u2019ve always been best at. I was a centrefielder and relief pitcher.<\/p>\n What is your favourite pastime during the off-season?<\/p>\n The truth is, romance novels. I\u2019m a big reader. I get through about two books a week, in-season. Out of season, it goes up to three.<\/p>\n Poutine, butter tarts or Nanaimo bars \u2014 what\u2019s the ultimate Canadian snack?<\/p>\n I don\u2019t like any of the above. Not even close \u2014 they won\u2019t touch my taste buds, I won\u2019t order them. I like BeaverTails.<\/p>\n Cats or dogs?<\/p>\n Dogs. Big dogs, though \u2014 like a Great Dane or a German Shepard.<\/p>\n Favourite moment of your career?<\/p>\n (Bombers fans) might not like this one, but my first career touchdown was against Winnipeg, at home, where I caught a post and did a front flip into the end zone. That was my favourite career moment. At every level of playing, from junior football, college football and professional football, my first touchdown of each one was a front flip into the end zone.<\/p>\n One thing you can\u2019t go on a road trip without?<\/p>\n There\u2019s a few things: a book, I can\u2019t go on a road trip without headphones, and if it\u2019s a seven o\u2019clock game I won\u2019t go on the road without my PlayStation.<\/p>\n If you could play another position \u2014 and have the physical ability for it \u2014 what would it be?<\/p>\n I\u2019d stay exactly as I am and play DB (defensive back). I played DB my whole life; I just happen to not be allowed to play two positions here.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one piece of advice you\u2019d give your rookie self \u2014 or as a kid dreaming of playing in the CFL?<\/p>\n Build up an image of yourself and then live up to it. Every single day, make a conscious effort to live up to the way you see yourself and the things you told yourself you were going to be able to do. No matter what, you create that image for yourself, and wherever you set that bar is where you\u2019ll be able to reach. So don\u2019t aim low.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Jackson Findlay, B.C. Lions<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jeff Vinnick\/BC Lions<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n B.C. Lions\u2019 defensive back Jackson Findlay (right) celebrates an interception with his teammates.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Hometown: North Vancouver<\/p>\n Age: 21<\/p>\n Position: Defensive back<\/p>\n Height: 6-2<\/p>\n Weight: 207 pounds<\/p>\n Notable: A 2025 second-round draft pick of the Lions, Findlay quickly became a full-time starter and made an impact as a rookie, recording 26 defensive tackles, 12 more on special teams and four interceptions<\/p>\n What\u2019s your pre-game hype song\u2026 and your guilty pleasure song if you want to admit to blasting it?<\/p>\n I listen to an AC\/DC playlist on shuffle, but I got one of their songs that is kind of my go-to, which is Beating Around the Bush\u2026<\/p>\n I got a couple of playlists where I got some guilty pleasure songs like Pink Pony Club (by Chappell Roan).<\/p>\n What\u2019s your most impressive physical ability (can be strength or athleticism)?<\/p>\n I have a pretty good power clean. My max power clean was 330 (pounds), so pretty proud of that.<\/p>\n Do you have a hidden talent?<\/p>\n Yes, and my teammates have actually discovered it. I like to paint, specifically shoes and cleats. So I\u2019ve been painting some cleats for them throughout this year.<\/p>\n If you weren\u2019t playing football, what would be your dream job?<\/p>\n I\u2019d like to go into oncology \u2014 the study of cancer. I finished my undergrad last year, but I\u2019d have to go back to school for that.<\/p>\n What is your favourite pastime during the off-season?<\/p>\n Usually, my off-season was summer, but now it\u2019s kind of flipped around, but I\u2019d still say probably golf. That\u2019s super fun, and I think back in B.C., we can kind of play all year round, which is nice.<\/p>\n Poutine, butter tarts or Nanaimo bars \u2014 what\u2019s the ultimate Canadian snack?<\/p>\n I would go butter tarts there. I really love those maple syrup sticks \u2014 they pour it in the snow, it freezes up, and you make little popsicle sticks out of it (maple taffy). I\u2019d put that in my No. 2.<\/p>\n Cats or dogs?<\/p>\n I have a cat. I\u2019d still put dogs, though.<\/p>\n Favourite moment of your career?<\/p>\n My favourite moment was from university, in my third year, 2023, when we won our Yates Cup (winner of the Ontario University Athletics conference). We were kind of underdogs going throughout those playoffs, into that game, and ended up pulling it off against Laurier. That was a pretty cool experience.<\/p>\n One thing you can\u2019t go on a road trip without?<\/p>\n Snacks. A good assortment of them, whether that be chips, crackers, pepperoni sticks, definitely fruit and maybe some juice.<\/p>\n If you could play another position \u2014 and have the physical ability for it \u2014 what would it be?<\/p>\n If I could throw a ball, I\u2019d take QB (quarterback). Unfortunately, I can\u2019t throw a ball.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one piece of advice you\u2019d give your rookie self \u2014 or as a kid dreaming of playing in the CFL?<\/p>\n Dream big. These dreams, they might seem far away as a kid or as a young player, but put your mind to it, work hard and you can achieve what might not seem achievable at the moment. Achieve those little goals going up to it, and eventually you\u2019ll get some opportunities \u2014 just seize those opportunities.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan Roughriders<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Hometown: Scarborough, Ont.<\/p>\n Age: 32<\/p>\n Position: Defensive back<\/p>\n Height: 6-0<\/p>\n Weight: 195 pounds<\/p>\n Notable: In his return to the CFL after spending six years in the NFL, Campbell was named to the All-CFL Team after being tied for the league lead with six interceptions (returning one for a touchdown) and registering 18 defensive tackles.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your pre-game hype song\u2026 and your guilty pleasure song if you want to admit to blasting it?<\/p>\n I don\u2019t really have a specific pre-game hype song. I\u2019m kind of unorthodox. I\u2019m not really the rah-rah listening type. I can listen to R&B, gospel, rap \u2014 it doesn\u2019t matter\u2026<\/p>\n I like Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your most impressive physical ability (can be strength or athleticism)?<\/p>\n Probably my speed. I ran a 4.36 (second) 40-yard dash.<\/p>\n Do you have a hidden talent?<\/p>\n I can draw a little. I could draw cartoons, but I do like drawing Marvel characters or people in the army with guns, stuff like that.<\/p>\n If you weren\u2019t playing football, what would be your dream job?<\/p>\n An actor.<\/p>\n What is your favourite pastime during the off-season?<\/p>\n Just hanging out with my kids. Just being a dad, really. I have three kids \u2014 my son is turning 10 this month, my daughter is four, and my other son is six months.<\/p>\n Poutine, butter tarts or Nanaimo bars \u2014 what\u2019s the ultimate Canadian snack?<\/p>\n Probably poutine over the other two, for sure.<\/p>\n Cats or dogs?<\/p>\n Cats. They are the superior animal \u2014 the king of the jungle.<\/p>\n Favourite moment of your career?<\/p>\n I\u2019ve just enjoyed my career as a whole, in its entirety. Getting a pick-six is definitely pretty fun, though. Technically, I had three (this year), but one of them was taken away. The other one was on a two-point conversion, so they didn\u2019t count as a six.<\/p>\n If you could play another position \u2014 and have the physical ability for it \u2014 what would it be?<\/p>\n Receiver or punter. I\u2019m a pretty good punter. Whatever people tell you, don\u2019t believe them \u2014 I\u2019m good at punting. I\u2019m working up to 50 yards.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one piece of advice you\u2019d give your rookie self \u2014 or as a kid dreaming of playing in the CFL?<\/p>\n Believe in yourself. A lot of people might not believe in you, but just believe in yourself. It\u2019s all you need at the end of the day.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Joshua Frey-Sam Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
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